Hand-book, mineral resources of Georgia

t:TN

L SURVEY OF GEORGIA

:ALLIE. STATE GEOLOGIST

HAND-BOOK

MINERAL RESOURCES

OF

GEORGIA

s. w. MCCALLIE

STATE GEOLOGIST

ATLANTA; GA.

1918

EXCHANGE

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA

S. W. McCALLIE, STATE GEOLOGIST

HAND-BOOK

MINERAL RESOURCES

OF

GEORGIA

REVISED EDITION

S. W. MCCALLIE

STATE GEOLOGIST

ATLANTA. GA.

1918

FOOTE & DAVIES CO., ATLANTA

EXCHANGE

THE ADVISORY BOARD

OF THE

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
GEORGIA

IN THE YEAR 1918

(EX-OFFICIO)

His Excellency HUGH M. DORSEY, Governor oi Georgia
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD

HON. PHILIP COOK Secretary oi State

HON. W. J. SPEER ---..- - State Treasurer
HON. W. A. WRIGHT - - - - Comptroller-General
HON. CLIFFORD WALKER - - Attorney-General
HON. J. J. BROWN - - Commissioner of Agriculture
HON. M. L. BRITTAIN Commissioner oi Public Schools

393285

MINERAL RESOURCES

OF

GEORGIA

The mineral resources of Georgia are
both varied and extensive. The State
is producing at present 34 different kinds
of minerals in commercial quantities.
This great diversity of mineral resources
is accounted for in a large measure by
the great diversity in the geological for-
mations.

Following the description of each indi-
vidual mineral here given will be found
references to publications issued by the
State Geological Survey, in which the
minerals are more fully discussed. Any
of these publications can be obtained
from the State Geologist upon payment
of postage.

ASBESTOS

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral often re-
sembling petrified wood. The asbestos
deposits of Georgia are confined chiefly
to the Piedmont Plateau, where they are
found associated with dark colored, igne-
ous rocks. There are two varieties of as-
bestos, the chrysotile and the amphibole,

8 Gi -O,,P<, ii AT. SURVEY Or GEORGIA.

The latter variety is extensively mined
in Habersham and White counties, near
Nacoochee, this State. The White County
mines here referred to have been the
chief producers of asbestos in this coun-
try for several years. The finer varieties
of asbestos are spun and woven into fire-
proof cloth. It is a non-conductor of heat
and electricity, and therefore is used for
electrical insulation, steam pipe, boiler
coverings, etc. It is also used in the
manufacture of fire-proof paint, various
building materials, such as lumber, shin-
gles and plaster.

References on Asbestos:

McCallie, S. W., Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : Bull. Go,. Geol. Survey No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

Hopkins, Oliver B., Asbestos, Talc, and Soap-
stone Deposits of Georgia. Bull. Ga. Geol.
Survey No. 29, 1914, 319 pp.

BARYTES

This mineral, often called heavy spar,
from its high specific gravity, is a com-
mon gangue mineral of lead, zinc, copper,
etc. It likewise occurs as distinct veins
and as irregular ore bodies in limestones,
sandstones, and in residual clays. The
Georgia barytes deposits, which have so
far been worked in a commercial way,
are located near Emerson, Bartow
County, and at Eton. Murray County. The
mineral is largely used as a substitute
for white lead. It is used also in the

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 9

manufacture of paper, rubber, oilcloths,
paper collars, and barium salts, as well
as for refining sugar, glazing pottery, and
for enameling iron.

Georgia last year produced about two-
thirds of the barytes mined in the United
States, all of which came from the Car-
tersville district.

References on Barytes:

McCallie, S. W., Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : Bull. Ga. GeoL Survey No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

Hull. J. P. D.. Barytes Deposits of Georgia:
Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 36, in preparation.

BARYTES MINING. BARTOW COUNTY.
BAUXITE

The first bauxite found in America was
discovered near Hermitage, Floyd Coun-

10 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

ty, in 1887. Later, deposits were found
in Polk, Bartow, Gordon, Chattooga and
Walker counties, and between 1907 and
1915 deposits were found in the vicinity
of Mclntyre, Wilkinson County, near An-
dersonville, Sumter County, and also near
Warm Springs, Meriwether County. The
bauxites of northwest Georgia are asso-
ciated with Cambrian rocks, while those
of central Georgia occur associated with
the white Cretaceous kaolins. Since 1888
a high percentage of the bauxite mined in

BAUXITE MINE, SUMTER COUNTY.

this country has been obtained from Ar-
kansas, Georgia and Alabama.

Bauxite is a hydroxide of alumina. The
ore occurs both in the form of large
pockets and as beds, and is mined in the

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 11

same manner as clay. The Georgia
bauxites are used largely in the manu-
facture of alum and the metal aluminum.
Bauxite is also employed in making fire-
brick and alundum, an artificial abrasive.

References on Bauxite:

Watson, Thos. L., Bauxite D'eposits of Geor-
gia : 'Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 11, 1904,
169 pp.

Veatch, Otto, Clay Deposits of Georgia :
Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 18, 1909, Appen-
dix D.

Shearer, H. K., Bauxite and Fullers Earth
Deposits ot the Coastal Plain of Georgia :
Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 31, 1917, 340 pp.

CEMENTS

Both natural and Portland cements are
made in Georgia. Natural cement plants
are located at Cement, Bartow County
and at Rossville, Walker County, while
extensive Portland cement plants are op-
erated at Rockmart, Polk County. The
raw materials for the manufacture of
Portland cement, consisting of lime-
stones and shales, are abundant and
pretty generally distributed throughout
northwest Georgia. Both Portland and
natural cements are largely used for
structural purposes, and as these uses
are so rapidly increasing it might be
said that we are now entering the ce-
ment age of structural material.

12 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.
References on Cements:

McCallie, S. W., Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

Maynard, T. Poole. Limestones and Cement
Materials of North Georgia: Bull. Ga. Geol.
Survey No. 27, 1912, 296 pp.

Brantly, J. E., Limestone and Marls of the
Coastal Plain of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Sur-
vey No. 21, 1916, 300 pp.

PORTLAND CEMENT PLANT, POLK COUNTY.
CHLORITE

Chlorite is a magnesian aluminum sili-
cate composed of greenish or grey mica-
like scales. It has a soapy feel and for
this reason it is often mistaken for talc
or soapstone.

This material occurs in commercial
quantities five miles west of Canton,
Cherokee County. In the last two or

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 13

three years this chlorite deposit has been
extensively mined and hauled to Canton,
where it is ground and prepared for
markets. It is said to be used for foun-
dry facings, coating tarred roof paper,
in the manufacture of electrical insula-
tors, for lubricating purposes, etc.

Reference on Chlorite:

Hopkins, p. B., Asbestos, Talc and Soap-
stone Deposits of Georgia : null. Oa. Geol.
Survey A'o. _M), 11)14, 319 pp.

CHROMITE

Only two counties in Georgia, namely,
Towns and Troup, as far as known at
present, have chromite in apparently
commercial quantity. The deposit in
Towns County is located two miles due
west of Hiawassee, on lot 92; while the
deposit in Troup County is near Louise.
From the latter locality a limited amount
of ore has recently been shipped. The
ore in both localities is associated with
ferro-magnesian rock and is generally
found in the form of boulders in residual
clays.

Chromite is used in the manufacture
of hard chrome steel and chrome brick,
which stand intense heat. It is also used
in calico printing and electric batteries
as well as a source of various chromium
compounds such as potassium bi-chrom-
ate.

14 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.
Reference on Chromite:

Hopkins, O. B., Asbestos, Talc and Soap-
stone Deposits of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol.
Survey No. 29, 1914, 319 pp.

CLAYS

The clays of Georgia, which may be
classed as one of our inexhaustible min-
eral resources, present a great variety.
In the southern part of the State occur
the Cretaceous and Tertiary sedimentary
clays. The great thickness of these beds
and the purity of the clays themselves
are probably nowhere else to be dupli-
cated in this country. These clays, which
are now being extensively mined, are
used largely for the manufacture of high-
grade china, for paper filler, and for fire-
brick, terra cotta, etc. Scarcely less im-
portant are the alluvial and residual
clays of the Piedmont Plateau and north-
west Georgia, which have extensive use
in the manufacture of common building
brick. The value of the clay products
of Georgia now exceeds that of any other
mineral product of the State.

References on Clays:

Ladd, Geo. E., The Clay Deposits of Georgia :
Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 6-A, 1898, 204 pp.

Veatch, Otto, Clay Deposits of Georgia :
Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 18, 1909, 453 pp.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 15

-

KAOLIN PLANT, TWIGGS COUNTY.
COAL

The coal measures of Georgia are con-
fined to Sand, Lookout and Pigeon moun-
tains, in Bade, Walker and Chattooga
counties. They form a part of the north-
ern extension of the Coosa and the War-
rior coal fields of Alabama. The Durham
Coal and Coke Company's mine and the
mine of the Vulcan Coal Company, both
located on Lookout Mountain, are the
only mines now in operation in the State.
The coal from these mines is semi-bitum-
inous, has a high heating value, and is
largely used for steam and coking pur-
poses. The total coal area of the State
is approximately 170 square miles, which
area is estimated to have had originally
933,000,000 short tons of coal. About 12,-
000,000 tons of coal have been mined up

16 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

to the present, leaving still in the ground
a total of 921,000,000 tons, enough to last
the State, at our present rate of consump-
tion, for more than 200 years.

Reference on Coal:

McCallie, S. W., Coal Deposits of Georgia :
Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey ~Vo. 12, 1904, 121 pp.

COKE OVENS. WALKER COUNTY.
COPPER

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 17

posits have been worked at only one
place, namely, the Canton copper mine,
one mile south of Canton. The Waldrop
copper mine in Haralson County is lo-
cated about three miles northwest of
Draketown, near the Haralson-Polk county
line. In addition to the deposits here
named, copper is also known to occur
in Lincoln, Lumpkin and Fulton coun-
ties. The copper deposits of Fannin,
Cherokee and Haralson counties are as-
sociated with Cambrian rocks, while
those in Lumpkin, Fulton and Lincoln
counties occur in older rocks, probably
Archaean.

References on Copper:

McCallie, S. W.. Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

Shearer, H. K. and Hull, J. P. D., A Pre-
liminary Report on a Part of the Pyrite De-
posits of Georgia. Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No.
33, in preparation.

CORUNDUM

Corundum is an aluminum oxide. It is
next to the diamond in hardness. There
are three varieties of this mineral: sap-
phire, corundum and emery. The purer
kinds of fine colors, transparent or
translucent, used for gems, are known
as sapphires and rubies; the dull colors,
not transparent, are called corundum;
while the black or grayish black variety,
intimately mixed with oxide of iron,

18 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

either magnetite or hematite, is known as
emery. All varieties of corundum have
been found in Georgia, with the excep-
tion of emery. The principal variety is
the non-transparent variety. A few gems
of the variety sapphire have been found
near Hiawassee, Towns County. These
were small, prismatic crystals of ruby
color, but somewhat cloudy. A few gems
of sapphire are said to have been found
at the Laurel Creek mine in Rabun
County. Corundum is known to occur in
many counties in north Georgia. The
chief corundum output has come from
the Laurel Creek mine, located in the
extreme northeastern part of Rabun
County.

From 1880 until 1892, Georgia was one
of the chief corundum producing states
in the Union. In recent years, the mines
have been idle, due, chiefly, to the low
price of corundum. In addition to gem
material, corundum has an extensive use
as an abrasive.

Reference on Corundum:

King, Francis P.. Corundum Deposits of
Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 2, 1894,
133 pp.

FELDSPAR

The feldspars are widely distributed
throughout the Piedmont and Appalach-
ian areas of Georgia, where they occur in
dikes associated with mica and quartz.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 19

The only place where feldspar has so
far been mined in any quantity is near
Hiram in Paulding County. A limited
amount has also been mined in White
and Rabun counties. The Georgia feld-
spars so far put on the market are potash
feldspars and have been used for fer-
tilizer purposes after being chemically
treated to make the potash soluble.

Feldspar is used extensively as an in-
gredient in the raw mix of china por-
celain, whitewash, glazes, and enamels.
It is also used as an ingredient in some
polishing scouring soaps; in the manufac-
ture of certain kinds of glass, for pot-
tery, grits, etc.

Furthermore, it has recently been used
to a limited extent as a source of potash.

Reference on Feldspar:

Galpin, S. L., Feldspar and Mica Deposits
of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 30,
1915, 129 pp.

FLUORSPAR

Fluorspar is used largely as a flux in
smelting ore, in the manufacture of opal-
escent glass, and hydrofluoric acid. The
mineral has a variety of colors, the most
common being purple and green.

Fine specimens of this mineral, having
a beautiful greenish color, have recently
been found in the vicinity of Ranger,
Gordon county. At Graysville, in Chat-
tooga County, the mineral in the form

20 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

of cubic crystals with a violet color, oc-
curs associated with limestone.

FULLERS EARTH

The best known deposits of fullers
earth occur near Dry Branch, Twiggs
County, and in the vicinity of Attapul-
gus, Decatur County, where they have
been worked for some years. Extensive
deposits also occur in Bibb, Columbia

FULLERS EARTH PLANT, TWIGGS COUNTY.

and other counties near the Fall Line.
The deposits of Twiggs County are now
being worked by the General Reduction
Company. Georgia stands second in the
production of fullers earth, being ex-
ceeded only by Florida.

Fullers earth is a clay-like material of
various colors. It differs from common

MINERAL Rt SOURCES OF GEOHGIA. 21

clay in being more porous, carrying a
high percentage of silica as compared
with the alumina and in having little or
no plasticity. Fullers earth, so-called on
account of it being first used in fulling
cloth, is now largely employed in decolor-
izing and clarifying oils and fats. Be-
sides the use here given, it has also a
limited application in the preparation
of certain medicines and in the manu-
facture of soap, as well as an absorbent.

References on Fullers Earth.

Veatch, Otto, Clay Deposits of Georgia :
Hull. Ga. Geol. Surrey A T o. 18. 1900, 433 pp.

Shearer, H. K., Bauxite and Fullers Earth of
the Coastal Plain of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol.
Survey No. 31, 1917, 340 pp.

GOLD.

Gold has been mined in Georgia for
more than three-quarters of a century.
Previous to the discovery of gold in Cali-
fornia, the mines of Georgia furnished
the greater part of the gold produced in
the United States. As early as 1838, the
output of the mines of the State had be-
come so important that the United States
government found it necessary to estab-
lish a miritat Dahlonega. The gold de-
posits of Georgia belong to the Appalach-
ian gold fields, an auriferous belt extend-
ing from Nova Scotia to Alabama. In
Georgia, the gold occurs in a number of
narrow, parallel belts, having a north-
east-southwest trend. The most impor-

22 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

GOLD MINING PLANT, HARALSON COUNTY.

tant of these are the Dahlonega and Hall
county belts. Another belt including some
very important mines traverses Lincoln,
Columbia, McDuffie and Warren counties,
in the eastern part of the State. The in-
dividual auriferous belts are usually
made up of a great number of veins or
ore bodies running parallel to each other.
The veins vary in thickness from a frac-
tion of an inch to several feet or rods,
and often continue without interruption
for long distances.

References on Gold:

Yeates, W. S., McCallie, S. W., King, F. P.,
Gold Deposits of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Sur-
vey No. 4-A, 1896, 542 pp.

Jones, S. Percy, Gold Deposits of Georgia :
Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 19, 1909, 283 pp.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 23

GRANITES

The granites of Georgia, together with
the gneisses, constitute the most exten-
sive and one of the most important
building and monumental stones in the
State. They occur in inexhaustible quan-
tities and are widely distributed through-
out the Piedmont Plateau. One of the
most interesting and one of the largest
barren granite masses in the country is
that of Stone Mountain, located only a
few miles northeast of Atlanta. This
mountain has long been the seat of a
very important granite industry. The
stone obtained from these quarries is a
light colored muscovite granite possess-
ing remarkable strength, and is quite
free from all chemical and physical de-
fects. The stone has extensive use as
a building material and is also largely em-
ployed in street improvement. There is
probably no granite in the South more
widely known and more generally used
than that furnished by the Stone Moun-
tain quarries. Another granite, or rather
a granite-gneiss, of almost as much
economic importance as the Stone Moun-
tain granite, is the Lithonia granite.
This stone covers a considerable area
in the eastern part of DeKalb and the
contiguous parts of Rockdale and Gwin-
nett counties. The Lithonia quarries are
very extensive and furnish large quanti-
ties of stone for street improvements as

24 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

well as for concrete and general building
purposes.

In addition to the granites here named,
there are other granites of superior qual-
ity used for monumental stone. Some of
the granites of this character are those
obtained from the Elberton, the Oglesby,
the Lexington and the Meriwether quar-
ries. These monumental granites have
but few equals, if any superiors, in the
United States as a monumental stone.
At present, Georgia stands seventh *n the
rank of the production of granite in i"
country, being exceeded only by Verm; _it,
Massachusetts, Maine, Colorado, Wiscon-
sin and Maryland.

Reference on Granites:

Watson, Thos. L., Granites and Gneisses of
Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 9-A,
1902, 367 pp.

GRAPHITE

Both amorphous and crystalline varie-
ties of this mineral occur in Georgia.
The amorphous variety is quite abundant
in the neighborhood of Emerson, Bartow
County, where it has been mined on a
more or less extensive scale. Fine sam-
ples of crystalline graphite have been
found in Bartow, Pickens, Elbert, Hall,
Madison, Douglas, Troup and Cobb coun-
ties. All of the graphite material so far
mined in Georgia has been used as a
filler for commercial fertilizers.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 25

Reference on Graphite:

McCallio, S. W., Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : BuU. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

IRON ORES

Iron ores occur in Georgia in large
quantities. The most common ores are
the brown ores, or limonites, and the fos-
sil ores, or hematites. Magnetite also oc-
curs. The brown iron ores are most
abundant in Polk, Bartow and Floyd
counties, but workable deposits are also
to be found in nearly every county in the
northwestern part of the State. These
ores are confined chiefly to two geological
horizons, viz., the Weisner quartzite and
Knox dolomite. The ores associated with
the Weisner quartzite sometimes occur
in ill-defined veins, but more generally
they are found in the form of pockets or
irregular deposits in the residual clays.
The brown iron ores of the Knox dolo-
mite series occur chiefly in the form of
pockets or irregular deposits in the resid-
ual clays. The deposits are quite varia-
ble in size. Some of the individual de-
posits in the vicinity of Cedartown have
been worked on an extensive scale for
more than ten years without exhausting
the supply.

The red, or fossil, iron ores of Georgia
are confined to Bade, Walker, Chattooga
and Catoosa counties. These ores occur
in the Red Mountain iron ore bearing

26 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

series, which is so well developed near
Birmingham. The ores occur in continu-
ous beds varying from a few inches to
several feet in thickness. Some idea may
be had as to the abundance of the red
fossil iron ores of Georgia when it is
stated that the aggregate length of the
outcroppings of the beds, which average
more than two feet in thickness, is ap-
proximately 175 miles, and that in many
places the ore can be economically mined
to the depth of several hundred feet.

References on Iron Ores:

McCallie, S. W., Iron Ores of Polk, Bartow
and Floyd counties. Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol.
Survey No. 10-A, 1900, 190 pp.

Fossil Iron Ores of Georgia :

Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 17, 1908, 199 pp.

IRON ORE MINING. POLK COUNTY.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 27

LIMESTONES

Cambrian, Silurian and Carboniferous
limestone, suitable for lime, fluxing and
building materials, exist in great abun-
dance in northwest Georgia. The most
extensive of these calcareous formations
is the Knox dolomite, a magnesian lime-
stone of great thickness. This formation
furnishes much of the lime used in the
State, as well as a large amount of stone
for concrete and for general building pur-
poses. Other calcareous formations of
scarcely less commercial importance are
the Bangor and the Chickamauga lime-

LIMESTONE CRUSHING PLANT, BARTOW COUNTY.

stones. In addition to these occurrences,
extensive beds suitable for lime and for
agricultural purposes occur in the Creta-
ceous and Tertiary formations of south
Georgia.

28 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.
References on Limestones:

McCallie, S. W.. Roads and Road-Building
Materials of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey
No. 8, 1901, 264 pp.

Maynard T. Poole, Limestone and Cement
Materials of North Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol.
Survey No. 27, 1912, 296 i>i>.

Brantly. J. E., Limestones and Marls of the
Coastal Plain of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Sur-
vey No. 21, 1916, 300 pp.

MANGANESE

The manganese ores, like the brown
iron ores, are confined chiefly to Bartow,
Floyd and Polk counties. The largest
and most productive deposits are found
in the vicinity of Cartersville, where the
ores occur as irregular deposits in the
residual clays derived from the Beaver
limestone and the Weisner quartzite. The
manganese deposits of Georgia have been
worked almost continuously for many
years. During their early workings the
ores were shipped to England, but in the
last few years they have found a ready
market in this country, where they have
been used in the manufacture of steel and
for bleaching powder.

References on Manganese:

Watson, Thos. L., Manganese Deposits of
Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 14, 1908,
195 pp.

McCallie, S. W., Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 29

MARBLES

Previous to 1884, the marbles of Geor-
gia were practically unknown as building
and ornamental stones, but at present
the output of the quarries exceeds that of
any State in the Union with the exception
of Vermont. The most valuable marbles
of Georgia are those of Pickens, Chero-

GEORGIA MARBLE QUARRIES, PICKENS COUNTY.

kee, Gilmer and Fannin counties. These
marbles occur in a narrow belt which
runs parallel to the Louisville and Nash-
ville Railroad, from near Ball Ground,
Cherokee County, to the Georgia-North
Carolina State line, a distance of more
than 60 miles. The main marble Indus-

30 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

try of the State is located in the vicinity
of Tate, Pickens County, where the de-
posit attains its greatest thickness. The
Pickens County marble usually has a
coarse texture, but admits of a very fine
polish and is admirably suited both for
building and monumental purposes. In
color, the stone varies from white to al-
most black. A flesh-colored variety is
also found. The physical and chemical
properties, as shown by the numerous
tests made by the State Geological Sur-
vey, demonstrate that its durability
equals or exceeds that of any other mar-
ble now being put upon the market.

At present a number of different mar-
ble quarries, having an aggregate annual
output of several hundred thousand cubic
feet of stone, are being operated in Pick-
ens County. The product of the quarries
is shipped to nearly every State in the
Union, where it is used in the construc-
tion and decoration of some of the most
costly buildings. The State capitols of
Minnesota and Rhode Island; the United
States Government building, Boston; St.
Luke's Hospital, New York; the Corcoran
Art Gallery, Washington; and the Field
Museum of Natural History, Chicago,
111., with numerous other handsome build-
ings throughout the United States, are
constructed wholly or in part of the
Georgia marble. There is probably no
building stone in this country, in recent
years, which has gained such a wide-
spread use and given such universal sat-

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 31

isfaction as the Georgia marble. The
growth of the use of the stone has also
been equally as phenomenal in monu-
mental work.

Reference on Marble:

McCallie, S. W., Marbles of Georgia: Bull,
Ga. Geol. Survey No. 1 Revised, 1907, 126 pp.

MARLS

Marls of good quality are found in the
Cretaceous and Tertiary formations of
south Georgia. There is probably no
county in the southern part of the State
which does not possess marl deposits of
more or less agricultural value. In ad-
dition to the common calcareous or shell
marl, green sand marls also occur.
Analyses of these green sands show that
they carry a considerable amount of
phosphoric acid and potash, two of the
most important plant foods. The use of
the Georgia marls as a natural fertilizer
has so far been quite limited, but in all
cases where they have been given a fair
test the result has been entirely satis-
factory.

References on Marls:

McCallie. S. W., Phosphates and Marls of
Georgia : Bull. Oa. Geol. Survey No. 5-A, 1896,
98 pp.

Brantly, J. E., Limestones and Marls of the
Coastal Plain of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Sur-
vey No. 21, 1916, 300 pp.

32 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY or GEORGIA.
MICA

Mica is widely distributed throughout
the Piedmont Plateau. It has been work-
ed to a limited extent in Upson, Cherokee,
Lumpkin, Union, Hall and Rabun coun-
ties. Some of the most promising pros-
pects in Cherokee County are in the
vicinity of Holly Springs and Toonigh,
and in the Hickory Plats district about
ten miles southeast of Canton. The
Lumpkin and Union County deposits, as
so far developed, occur near the Lumpkin-
Union county line. Upson County is now
an active producer as well as Meriwether
County. Mica has been mined in Rabun
County at the Kell Mica Mine, 10 miles
east of Clayton, and in Hall County, near
Gainesville. In addition to these locali-
ties, good mica prospects are found in a
large number of other counties in the
Piedmont Plateau.

Mica has a great variety of uses, but
at present the greater part of the produc-
tion is consumed in the electrical indus-
try. Ground mica is largely used in wall
paper and roofing as well as a lubricant.

References on Mica:

McCallie, S. W., Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

Galpin, S. L., Feldspar and Mica Deposits
of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 30,
1915, 190 pp.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 33
OCHER

The ocher mines of Georgia produce
more than one-half the yellow ocher out-
put of the United States. These mines
are located near Cartersville, Bartow
County. The deposits are confined to a
narrow belt about eight miles in length
and less than two miles in width. The
most extensive workings are those of
the Georgia-Peruvian Ocher Company,
situated on the left bank of the Etowah
River, two and one-fourth miles east of
Cartersville. Ocher mining in the Car-

OCHER PLANT, BARTOW COUNTY.

tersville district had its beginning in
1877. In 1890, the Georgia-Peruvian
Ocher Company began operations on an
extensive scale, and, later, three other
large ocher plants were put in operation.

34 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

The total maximum output of these four
plants is estimated at about 1,000 tons
per annum.

The principal use made of the yellow
ocher mined in Bartow County, up to the
present time, is in the manufacture of
linoleums and oilcloths. The important
markets are England and Scotland. It
is also used to a limited extent in the
manufacture of paints.

Reference on Ocher:

Watson, Thos. L., Ocher Deposits of Georgia :
Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 13, 1906, 81 pp.

PRECIOUS STONES

A large variety of minerals suitable for
gems and other ornamental objects and
cabinet specimens has been found in the
State. No systematic mining for gems,
however, has been carried on, and the
finds have been accidental, or incidental
to gold, corundum and other mining.
Nearly all of these minerals are found in
the Piedmont Plateau and the mountain-
ous section of the northeastern part of
the State. The most important gem
stones heretofore noted as occurring in
the State are as follows: Diamond, ruby,
amethyst, rose quartz, rutilated quartz,
smoky quartz, agate, jasper, opal, beryl,
garnet, rutile, moonstone.

Reference on Precious Stones:

McCallie, S. W., Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 35
POTASH-BEARING SLATES

Slates containing 7 to 10 per cent, pot-
ash occur north of Cartersville, Bartow
County, in a belt 15 miles long and 1 to
4 miles wide. The best exposures are
near White, on the L. & N. Railway,
where a thickness of several hundred
feet of such material may be worked by
open-cut methods. It is believed that
these slates are exceptionally fine raw
material for the extraction of potash for
fertilizer and other purposes.

Some of the slate has also the essen-
tial physical and chemical properties of
a first-class roofing slate.

Reference on Slate:

Shearer, H. K., Slate Deposits of Georgia :
Bull. Go,. Oeol. Survey No. 35, in preparation.

PYRITE

36 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

near Hiram, Paulding County; the Mari
etta mine near Marietta, Cobb County
the Sulphur Mining & Railroad Company
mine in Douglas County, and the Waldro;
mine near Draketown, Haralson County
Other promising deposits, which have
been worked in the past or rather exten-

PYRITE PLANT, CHEROKEE COUNTY.

sively explored are Reeds Mountain,
near Bremen, Haralson County; the
Southern Star mine, four miles west of
Woodstock, Cherokee County; the Swift
mine near Draketown, Haralson County;
the Swift or Blake mine at Creighton,
Cherokee County; the Canton Copper
mine, Cherokee County; and the Mam-
moth mine near Hiram, Paulding County.
The copper ore from Mine No. 20, Fannin
County, is also a source of sulphuric
acid.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 37
References on Pyrite:

McCallie, S. W., Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : Bull. Ga. GeoL Survey No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

Shearer. H. K., and Hull, J. P. D., A Pre-
liminary Report on a Part of the Pyrite De-
posits of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No.
-'{.">. in preparation.

ROAD MATERIALS

The road-building materials of Geor-
gia are quite abundant and pretty evenly
distributed throughout the State. Nearly
all the varieties of stone used in highway
construction occur in large quantities in
many sections. It is questionable
whether any State in the Union possesses
a greater variety of road-building mate-
rials than the State of Georgia.

References on Road Materials:

McCallie, S. W.. Roads and Road-Building
Materials of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey
No. 8, 1901, 264 pp.

McCallie, S. W., Public Roads of Georgia,
Second Report : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 24,
1910, 36 pp.

McCallie. S. W., Public Roads of Georgia :
Bull. Ga. GeoL Survey No. 28, 1912, 12 pp.

SAND AND GRAVEL

Sand and gravel are both widely dis-
tributed throughout the State. They are
especially abundant in the northern part
of the Coastal Plain. Enormous deposits
of sand are to be seen near Howard, on

38 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

the Central of Georgia Railway, in Taylc
County; at Junction City, in Talbot Cour
ty; on Bull Creek, three miles east
Columbus; on the west side of the Flin
River, at Bainbridge; on the Flint River
just opposite Albany; on the east bank
Little Ogeechee River, one and one-half
miles northeast of Lumber City; and on
the east bank of the Oconee River at Dub-
lin. In addition to these various locali-
ties there are numerous other localities
throughout the Coastal Plain where more
or less extensive deposits of sand and
gravel are to be found. In the Piedmont
Plateau and the Appalachian Valley re-
gion, the sands and gravels are mostly
found along the streams.

References on Sand and Gravel:

McCallie, S. W., Roads and Road-Building
Materials of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey
No. 8, 1901, 264 pp.

McCallie, S. W., Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

SERICITE

Sericite of exceptional purity occurs in
Pickens County only a short distance
west of Jasper, where it is found in beds
from a few inches to six feet or more
in thickness, interlaminated with quartz
schist.

The mineral is a variety of mica made
up of small elongated silver-colored
shreds. It resembles talc very closely, in

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 39

physical properties, and is often used for
the same purposes.

The Pickens County sericite has re-
cently attracted considerable attention as
a raw material for the extraction of pot-
ash. Two different companies are now
mining this material with a view of ex-
tracting the potash for fertilizer pur-
poses. The results of the tests so far
worked out by the companies here re-
ferred to, have not yet been made public.
However, they appear to be very san-
guine of a financial success.

References on Sericite:

Hopkins, O. B., Asbestos. Talc and Soapstone
Deposits of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey
No. 29, 1914, 319 pp.

Galpin, S. L., Feldspar and Mica Deposits of
Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 30, 1915,
192 pp.

SERPENTINE

Serpentine is a hydrous silicate of mag-
nesia, carrying, usually, more or less im-
purities. The only deposit of serpentine,
so far worked in Georgia, occurs at the
Verde Antique Marble Quarry in Chero-
kee County, about two miles southwest
of Holly Springs. The stone is used al-
most exclusively for interior finish and
decorations. It is especially adapted for
stairways, corridors, mantels and pedes-
tals for statuary.

40 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.
Reference on Serpentine:

McCallie, S. W., Marbles of Georgia : Bui
Go,. Geol. Survey No. 1, Revised, 1907, 126 pp

SLATE

Slate is found in Georgia in Bartow am
Polk counties. The largest area of slat
in Polk County, extends from about thre
miles south of Cartersville to about fiv
miles south of Rockmart. Another bel
of slate of the same age occurs south o
Cedartown. The Polk County slate is o
a dark blue to black color. It has a fin
texture and smooth cleavage and but few
defects. Another very promising slate
belt is found in northern Bartow, Gordon
and Murray counties. This slate has a
greenish color and possesses all of the
physical and chemical qualities of a
first-class roofing slate.

References on Slate:

McCallie, S. W., Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

Shearer, H. K., Slate Deposits of Georgia :
Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 35 in preparation.

TALC AND SOAPSTONE

Talc is a white, gray or greenish soft
mineral with a greasy feel. It is a sili-
cate of magnesia. Soapstone is usually
considered an impure form of talc.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 41

Talc has been found at a large number
of localities in the northern part of the
State, but commercial deposits have been
developed at only a few places. Soap-
stone is more widely distributed. Pour
companies are at present producing talc
in Georgia. The mills of these companies
are located at Chatsworth, Murray Coun-
ty, and the mines are on Fort and Co-
hutta mountains, about three miles dis-
tant. A considerable amount of pros-
pecting and mining has been done on the
Dickey property, one-half mile south of
Mineral Bluff, Fannin County. Talc has
also been mined to a limited extent near
Ball Ground and Holly Springs, Cherokee
County. Favorable prospects are known
to occur in other counties in north Geor-
gia. Talc is principally used for pencils,
gas tips, paper filler, lubricants, fire-
proof paints and toilet powders.

References on Talc and Soapstone:

McCallie, S. W., Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : Bull. Ga. Oeol. Survey No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

Hopkins, Oliver B., Asbestos, Talc and Soap-
stone Deposits of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Sur-
vey No. 29, 1914, 319 pp.

TRIPOLI

A light, porous, siliceous stone, locally
known as tripoli, occurs in Murray, Whit-
field, Chattooga and other counties in
northwest Georgia. One of the best
known deposits in Murray County is on

42 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

the Tilton property, near Spring Place.
There are several localities in Whitfield
County where it is known to occur. It
has been rather extensively worked near
Dalton and Lyerly. Tripoli mined in
Georgia is said to be used largely in the
manufacture of scouring soaps and polish-
ing powders.

Reference on Tripoli:

McCallio, S. W., Mineral Resources of Geor-
gia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survcv No. 23, 1910,
208 pp.

MINERAL WATERS

Mineral springs of greater or less im-
portance are widely distributed through-
out the State. They are abundant in the
Piedmont Plateau and Appalachian Val-
ley, where one or more having a local
reputation are met with in nearly every
county. These springs are especially
abundant in the mountainous regions of
the Piedmont area, where many of them
have become sites of prominent summer
resorts.

References on Mineral Waters:

McCallie, S. W., Underground Waters of
Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 15, 1908,
376 pp.

McCallie, S. W., Mineral Waters of Georgia :
Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 20, 1913, 190 pp.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 43
ARTESJAN WELLS

The artesian wells of Georgia are prac-
tically all confined to the Coastal Plain,
which is the only part of the State where
the geological conditions are favorable
for artesian water supply in large quan-
tities. A considerable number of deep,
non-flowing wells are also found in the
Crystalline and Paleozoic areas, but as a
general rule these wells furnish only a
limited amount of water and they can not
always be relied upon for a continuous
supply, as they are often affected by long
drouths.

References on Artesian Wells:

McCallie, S. W., Artesian Wells of Georgia :
Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 7, 1898, 214 pp.

- Underground Waters of Georgia :
Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 15, 1908, 376 pp.

WATER POWERS

It is estimated that the streams of
Georgia at low water will furnish an ag-
gregate of 500,000 horse-power, only a
small part of which is now developed.
The money value of this power, reckon-
ing a horse-power at $20.00 per annum,
is $10,000,000, which is nearly twice the
State's annual income from taxes and
all other sources. By the use of storage
dams, or by the use of auxiliary steam
power for short periods during the dry

44 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

season, fully 1,000,000 horse-power,
low estimate, could be utilized.

References on Water 'Powers:

Anderson, C. C., and Hall, B. M., Water
Powers of Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey
No. 3-A, 1896, 150 pp.

Hall, B. M. and M. R., Water Powers of
Georgia : Bull. Ga. Geol. Survey No. 16, 1908,
424 pp.

Hall, B. M. and M. R., Third Report on the
Water Powers of Georgia. In preparation.

TALLULAH FALLS POWER PLANT (102,000
H. P.). HABERSHAM COUNTY.

MINERAL RESOURCES or GEORGIA. 45

BULLETINS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
OF GEORGIA

1. Marbles of Georgia, by S. W. McCallie,
1894, 87 pp., 16 pi., and 2 maps. Out
of print.

1. Marbles of Georgia, Second Edition, Re-

vised and Enlarged, by S. W. McCallie,
1907, 126 pp., 52 pi., and 2 maps.
Postage, 13 cents.

2. Corundum Deposits of Georgia, by Francis

P. King, 1894, 133 pp., 6 pi., 1 map.
Postage, 9 cents.

3. A Part of the Water-Powers of Georgia,

by C. C. Anderson and B. M. Hall, 1896,
150 pp., 10 pi., and 2 maps. Postage,
9 cents.

4. A Part of the Gold Deposits of Georgia,

by W. S. Yeates, S. W. McCallie and
Francis P. King, 1896, 542 pp., 21 pi.,
and 1 map. Out of print.

5. A Part of the Phosphate and Marls of

Georgia, by S. W. McCallie, 1896, 98
pp., 3 pi. Out of print.

6. A Part of the Clays of Georgia, by Geo.

E. Ladd, 1898, 204 pp., 17 pi. Postage,
11 cents.

7. Artesian-Well System of Georgia, by S.

W. McCallie, 1898, 214 pp., 7 pi., and 2
maps. Postage, 13 cents.

8. Roads and Road-Building Materials of

Georgia, by S. W. McCallie, 1901, 264
pp., 27 pi., and 1 map. Postage, Ify
cents.

46 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

9. A Part of the Granites and Gneisses of
Georgia, by Thomas L. Watson, 1902,
367 pp., 32 pi., and 4 maps. Postage,
21 cents.

10. Iron Ores of Polk, Bartow and Floyd

counties, Georgia, by S. W. McCallie,
1900, 190 pp.. 8 pi., 1 map. Postage,
11 cents.

11. Bauxite Deposits of Georgia, by Thos. L.

Watson, 1904, 169 pp., 12 pi., and 1
map. Postage, 10 cents.

12. Coal Deposits of Georgia, by S. W. Mc-

Callie, 1904, 121 pp., 14 pi., and 1 map.
Postage, 9 cents.

13. Ocher Deposits of Georgia, by Thos. L.

Watson, 1906, 81 pp., 11 pi., and 3
maps. Postage, 6 cents.

14. Manganese Deposits of Georgia, by

Thomas L. Watson, 1908, 195 pp., 8 pi.,
and 2 maps. Postage, 12 cents.

15. Underground Waters of Georgia, by S. W.

McCallie, 1908, 376 pp., 29 pi., and 2
maps. Postage, 20 cents.

16. Water-Powers of Georgia, by B. M. and

M. R. Hall 1908, 424 pp., 14 pi., and 1
map. Postage, 21 cents.

17. Fossil Iron Ore Deposits of Georgia, by

S. W. McCallie, 1908, 199 pp., 24 pi.,
and 3 maps. Postage, Ik cents.

18. Clay Deposits of Georgia, by Otto Veatch,

1909, 453 pp., 32 pi., and 3 maps.
Postage, 25 cents.

19. Gold Deposits of Georgia, by S. P. Jones,

1909, 283 pp., 8 pi., and 2 maps. Post-
age, 16 cents.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF GEORGIA. 47

20. Mineral Waters of Georgia, by S. W. Mc-

Callie, 1913T 190 pp., 24 pi., and 1 map.
Postage, 11 cents.

21. Limestones and Marls of the Coastal Plain

of Georgia, by J. E. Brantly, 1916, 360
pp., 11 pi., and 1 map. Postage, 18
cents.

22. Brown Iron Ores of Georgia, by S. W.

McCallie. In preparation.

23. Mineral Resources of Georgia, by S. W.

McCallie, 1910, 208 pp., 20 pi., and 2
maps. Postage, IJj cents.

24. Public Roads of Georgia, Second Report,

by S. W. McCallie, 1910, 36 pages.
Postage, 5 cents.

25. Drainage Investigations in Georgia, by

S. W. McCallie, and U. S. Department
of Agriculture, 1911, 123 pp., 7 pi., and
5 maps. Postage, 12 cents.

26. Geology of the Coastal Plain of Georgia,

by Otto Veatch and L. M. Stephenson,

1911, 463 pp., 30 pi., and 2 maps.
Postage, 21 cents.

27. Limestones and Cement Materials of

North Georgia, by T. Poole Maynard,

1912, 296 pp., 22 pi., and 1 map. Post-
age, 18 cents.

28. Public Roads of Georgia, by S. W. Mc-

Callie, 1912, 12 pp. Postage, 5 cents.

29. Asbestos, Talc and Soapstone Deposits of

Georgia, by Oliver B. Hopkins, 1914,
319 pp., 21 pi., and 1 map. Postage, 11
cents.

30. Feldspar and Mica Deposits of Georgia, by

S. L. Galpin, 1915, 192 pp., 9 pi., and
1 map. Postage, 16 cents.

48 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF GEORGIA.

31. Bauxite and Fullers Earth of tlie Coastal

Plain of Georgia, by H. K. Shearer,
1917, 340 pp., 16 pi., and 1 map. Post-
age, 21 cents.

32. Agricultural Drainage in Georgia, by H. H.

Barrows, J. V. Phillips, and J. E.
Brantly, 1917, 122 pp., 9 pi., and 6 maps.
Postage, 12 cents.

33. A Preliminary Report on a Part of the

Pyrite Deposits of Georgia, by H. K.

Shearer, and J. P. D. Hull, 1918. In
preparation.

34. Third Report on the Water Powers of

Georgia, by B. M. and M. R. Hall, 1918.
In preparation.

35. Slate Deposits of Georgia, by H. K.

Shearer, 1918. In preparation.

36. Barytes Deposits of Georgia, by J. P. D.

Hull. In preparation.

ogicai
andbook

i Georgia

urvey

mineral resourfees

O

G4A6

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY